The U.S. Army recently announced that it has reenlisted over 23 soldiers who were previously discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. This step is part of a swift response to President Donald Trump’s directive aiming to reinstate these troops and provide them with back pay.
Among the returning soldiers, three have resumed active duty, while more than 20 have rejoined either the National Guard or the Reserve. They have all signed new contracts and reporting procedures have been set, according to Army officials.
Other military services are yet to complete their reenlistments but are actively reaching out to former personnel. Initiatives by the Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, and the Army include newly launched websites and extensive communication efforts, such as emails, letters, and phone calls, aimed at inviting discharged members back into military service.
President Trump criticized the vaccine mandate for unjustly pushing valuable service members out. He had signed an executive order soon after taking office, stating that the mandate had deprived the military of some of “our best people” and pledged to reinstate them with back pay. Despite this offer, potential reenlistees might receive less back pay than initially anticipated due to deductions for civilian earnings and any other payments received during their time away from the military.
The mandatory vaccination policy was first introduced by the Pentagon in August 2021 under then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. He emphasized that vaccination was crucial for maintaining a healthy and ready force. However, this mandate was abolished in January 2023.
Reenlistment conditions have since evolved. Initially, discharged troops were to commit to two years of service, per a memo dated February 7. A subsequent memo issued on April 1 by Jules Hurst III extended this commitment to four years, while specifically excluding those unwilling to commit to active duty for the appointed terms from the offer.
The majority of reenlisted soldiers had left the Army due to the vaccine mandate; they are reinstated for four years and qualify for back pay. Conversely, those who voluntarily departed the Army to escape vaccination were reenlisted for a shorter period and are ineligible for back pay.
There is an allowance for service members who were within two years of qualifying for retirement at the time of their discharge, enabling them to reenlist for a minimum of two years.
Approximately 8,200 military personnel were discharged over the vaccine mandate, and only now, starting in 2023, have they been given the opportunity to rejoin. Among this group, only 113 individuals have opted to reenlist.
Proactive outreach has been sustained by the Army and Marine Corps through direct communications to potential reenlistees. On the other hand, both the Navy and the Air Force had postponed their efforts, pending additional guidance. Army spokesperson Christopher Surridge reported around 400 expressions of interest in the reenlistment program, with approximately 100 applications in process. Estimates on total back pay distributed were not available.
Meanwhile, about 472 Marines have expressed curiosity about returning, whereas the Navy reported a limited number of inquiries from interested sailors, and the Air Force has yet to receive feedback from its service members.
The limited interest suggests a predominant number of soldiers have moved beyond using the vaccine policy as a reason to exit the military. For those eligible for back pay, amounts could encompass basic salary, bonuses, cost-of-living allowances, and certain healthcare costs, though they’d be reduced by civilian wages and other benefits accrued during their civilian period.
Service members are required to present detailed tax records and other related documentation as part of the reenlistment process. In return, they will receive an estimate of their potential back pay, and from there, they have 60 days to make a final decision on reenlistment.
Prospective reenlistees must comply with all military standards, including health, fitness, and moral guidelines. The deadline for pursuing reinstatement is set for February 28, 2026.